Christ’s Birth

God’s master plan of salvation was to send His only Son into the world to become man while still God. Jesus would lead a perfect life, die as atonement for all who would believe in Him, rise from the dead, and ascend into Heaven to prepare a place for all believers to live with our Lord forever (Jn 3:16). This plan was made before the beginning of creation (1Pe 1:20, Rev 13:8). The Savior was promised to Adam and Eve when they originated sin and were thrown out of the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:15). A Messiah who would save us was promised and prophesied about throughout the Old Testament (Isa 7:13-14, 9:6-7, Mic 5:2). Let us look at the events that led up to the birth and early days of the child that would change the world, Jesus Christ.

*The announcement of John to the announcement of Jesus

Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were faithful to God. They had no children and were past child bearing years. Zechariah was of the priestly division of Abijah and a priest at the temple in Jerusalem. One day while Zechariah was burning incense to the Lord in the Holy Place of the temple, an angel of the Lord, Gabriel, appeared and startled him. Gabriel told Zechariah he would have a son who would be a great prophet like Elijah, and would announce Jesus to the world. The angel also told Zechariah to name his son John. Zechariah had a hard time accepting God’s message, so the angel made him unable to speak until his son John was born. When Zechariah came out of the Holy Place he was trying to make signs and unable to speak, so many believed he had seen a vision from God. Luke 1: 5-25

The Angel Gabriel then appeared to Mary, a young woman who was living in Nazareth and engaged to be married to Joseph. Mary was at first afraid, but the angel told Mary not to be frightened for she had been favored by God, would give birth to a son and was to name Him Jesus. When Mary wondered how she would have a baby since she still was a virgin, the angel told her that the Holy Spirit would conceive a baby in her, that her son would be the Holy One, the Son of God. For with God all things are possible. Even Mary’s relative Elizabeth, though old and barren, was six months pregnant. Mary accepted the message and the angel left. Luke 1: 26-38

# Look at the small details of God’s plan. How the Lord had saved Zechariah and Elizabeth for this special task, for they were barren without child. It was a miracle obvious to many people to have a son at their age (Lk 1:36-37), like Abraham and Sarah (Gen 18:9-15). That even more attention would be drawn to John when he started his ministry, for many would remember that Zechariah had seen a vision from God that him mute, until Zechariah named his son John. Because Zechariah was a priest, John would also become a priest. That being both a priest and a prophet like Elijah, would give John more authority in his ministry, would allow John to baptize the Lord, make the Lord righteous as Jesus was consecrated to begin His ministry (Matt 3:15). Consider the faith that Mary had to accept the message that she would give birth to the Savior of the world. Her faith to believe in the miracle God would perform, her virgin birth, for she would conceive of the Spirit.

*Trip to Elizabeth to Birth of John

Mary quickly went to visit Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea near Jerusalem. When Mary greeted Elizabeth her baby John leaped in her womb. Elizabeth filled with the Spirit blessed Mary and the baby Jesus in her womb. Mary then too praised the Lord:

“My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.” Luke 1:46-55 KJV

Mary stayed with Elizabeth probably watching and helping with the birth of John. When John was circumcised eight days later Zechariah regained his ability to speak and filled with the Spirit praised and prophesized:

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:68-79 KJV

Mary then returned to Nazareth being about three months pregnant with Jesus. Luke 1:39-79

# Notice how the Lord gave Mary and Elizabeth spiritual companionship to help and strengthen their faith for the work they were chosen to do. Mary also learned the rigors of a traveling in coming to see Elizabeth, for she would soon use the same path on a trip to Bethlehem. Mary was also able to learn how to birth a baby, a task she would have to do with only the help of Joseph.

*Trip to Bethlehem through Birth of Jesus

It soon became obvious that Mary was pregnant, and Joseph not wanting to expose her to public disgrace planned to quietly divorce her. But an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to take Mary for his wife as her baby was conceived by the Spirit, and to name the child Jesus for He would save His people from their sins. Joseph did as the angel told him and had no sexual relations with Mary until after Jesus was born. Matthew 1:18-25

Rome decided to take a census on its entire empire. Joseph and Mary were required to go to Bethlehem because they were descendants of David. This would be a three or four day trip, especially hard for Mary as she was very late in her pregnancy and close to giving birth. When Joseph and Mary arrived at Bethlehem there was no were rooms available to stay in, for the census had brought many people to Bethlehem to register. The only available place was a stable and there Mary gave birth to her firstborn, a son, Jesus.

There were Shepherds tending their flocks of sheep at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them announcing:

“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:10-14 KJV

When the angels left the shepherds hurried off and found Mary, Joseph and the baby just as they had been told. The shepherds spread the good news the angel had told them about this baby to all around. Then they returned to their flocks praising God. Mary enjoyed the glory of giving birth to Jesus and pondered what His birth would mean. Luke 2:1-20

# Mary and Joseph had to be descendants of David, and the Lord made a reason, the census, for them to travel to Bethlehem where Jesus could be born to fulfill prophecy. They had to arrive at a time when only a stable was available so Jesus could have a humble birth. The poor have always been chosen to receive the grace of Christ (Lk 4:18, Ja 2:5), and the poor lowly shepherds emphasize this fact. They were the first to receive God’s glorious announcement of the birth of His Son. The shepherds were the first to come and worship their newborn King, the first to tell others the good news that the Messiah had come. We know the angels appeared to the shepherds, but they did not appear to Mary and Joseph before or after Christ’s birth. Nor did the angels sing. They simply announced Christ’s birth and told of God’s glory as Jesus came to earth to bring us a spiritual peace that only the Savior can give.

*Presentation at Temple to Nazareth Return

Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day and presented to the Lord at the temple in Jerusalem on the fortieth day. For every firstborn male had to be consecrated to the Lord, given to serve the Lord. At the temple was Simeon, a man the Spirit promised to show the Christ, the Messiah, to before he died. When Simeon saw Jesus he took him in his arms and praised God saying:

“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32 KJV

There was also a prophetess named Anna who looked on Jesus and gave thanks to God. She told about the child to all who were looking for the Messiah to come. Luke 2:21-38

There were Magi from the east that came to King Herod in Jerusalem looking for the one born King of the Jews. They had seen His star in the east and had come to worship Him. Herod secretly talked with the Magi and found out when the star had first appeared. Herod asked the Magi to let him know where they found this new King so he could come and worship him also. But Herod merely wanted to find the newborn King so he could kill this him, for this King who was a threat to Herod. The Magi continued on their trip until the star led them to the house where Jesus, Mary and Joseph were living. For the family had decided to remain in the Bethlehem area. The Magi bowed down and worshipped Jesus, presenting Him with expensive gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Magi were warned in a dream not to return to Herod but to use a different route on their journey home. When the Magi had left an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph telling him to take his family into Egypt for Herod was making plans to kill Jesus. Joseph obeyed God and began the journey to Egypt. Soon after the Magi eluded Herod, he ordered all the male children two years and under in the Bethlehem area, including Ramah, to be killed. When King Herod died the Lord in a dream told Joseph to return to Israel, but since Herod’s wicked son was ruling, Joseph once more in a dream was warned to return to Nazareth. Matthew 2:1-23

Jesus lived in Nazareth with his mother Mary and his earthly father Joseph as He grew up. Luke 2:39

# Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day and was presented to the Lord at the temple in forty days as required by God. Note how Luke tells us Jesus was consecrated to the Lord, even though the Levites had taken the place of the firstborn in serving God (Num 3:12-13). Jesus, because he was the line of Judah, reverted back to the firstborn to become the servant of God as He began His ministry. Simeon through the Spirit knew who Jesus was, as our Lord was presented to the Jewish believers, which included Anna, the prophetess. The Lord was then presented to the Gentiles, the Magi from the east. Jesus was presented first to the Jews, than to the Gentiles, and all things would always be first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles (Ro 1:16), until the last day. The Magi visited Jesus at the house where His family lived, anywhere from 40 days to almost two years after the Lord’s birth. Simeon’s words, “a light to lighten the Gentiles,” came true, for a light led the Gentiles to find their Savior. A light which only the Gentiles, the Magi saw, otherwise Herod would have found Jesus and killed Him. We know there were at least two Magi, but the exact number is unknown. The gifts the Magi gave Jesus were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts would cover the expenses of the family when they had to flee into Egypt, when King Herod killed all the baby boys up to age two in the Bethlehem area. This atrocity fulfilled the Scripture of mourning families at the time of Christ’s birth. An angel told Joseph when it was safe for the family to return and live in Nazareth which fulfilled two prophesies. The first is out of Egypt Jesus would be called (Hos11:1). God called Israel from Egypt, but Matthew tells us this also refers to calling His own Son (Mt 2:15). The second prophecy is Jesus would be called a Nazarene (Mt 3:23). Though Nazarene refers to where Jesus was living, Nazarene also meant despised and these are the prophecies Matthew is referring too (Ps 22:6, Isa 53:3).

*Dates

Jesus was born from 4-6 B.C. explanation at bottom of page. Most believe Jesus was born in the fall (due to the timing of His consecration of His ministry), perhaps the spring, and there is also the possibility that Jesus was born in December. Christmas was first celebrated on December 25 the day of a pagan sun festival. The idea was to give Christians a chance to celebrate their faith while drawing people away from the pagan celebration. Christmas soon overwhelmed the pagan holiday and is still with us today. We merely celebrate Jesus birth on Christmas Day, since the exact year, month, or day He was born is unknown.

There are many traditions of Christmas that we have contradicted in this message, that are Scripturally inaccurate. We must all decide whether to follow tradition or truth. We can make our Lord fit into the ideas we grew up with, live with, what are human reason is conditioned to, and let God be a concept of our own minds. Or accept that we are the Lord’s creation, allowing His love to make us one with Him as we become a concept of His great plan. Allow His great love to replace any warm feelings or emotions deep within us that old traditions may bring.

We have the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas time, but spiritual gifts are so much more important than physical presents. The greatest gift we will ever be given is the love of our Almighty God. The greatest gift we can ever give is to pass His love on to others. And the more love we give, the more love our Lord will give us. Merry Christmas let us all celebrate the birth of Jesus our Savior.

Calculation of when Jesus was born:

King Herod, Herod the Great, (Matt 2:1) was King from 37-4 B.C.

Jesus began His ministry at the age of 30 (Lk 3:23).

Jesus began His ministry 46 years after the temple had begun being built (Jn 2:20).

The temple was started around 19 B.C. so 46 – 19 B.C. + 1 year (for crossing B.C. to A.D. as had no zero at this time) makes it around 26 A.D. Jesus was 30 years old so 30 -26 A.D. -1 year (for crossing A.D. to B.C.) is 5 B.C. Jesus was born around 4-6 B.C.

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